Sunday, March 27, 2011

Joe Henderson: Double Rainbow, The Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim (1994)




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Joe Henderson: Double Rainbow, The Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim (1994)

The third of tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson's tribute CDs on Verve was originally supposed to be a collaboration with the great bossa nova composer Antonio Carlos Jobim but Jobim's unexpected death turned this project into a memorial. Henderson performs a dozen of the composer's works with one of two separate groups: a Brazilian quartet starring pianist Eliane Elias and a jazz trio with pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jack DeJohnette. In general, Henderson avoids Jobim's best-known songs in favor of some of his more obscure (but equally rewarding) melodies and in some cases (such as a very straight-ahead "No More Blues") the treatments are surprising. Highlights of this very accessible yet unpredictable CD include "Felicidade," "Triste," "Zingaro" and a duet with guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves on "Once I Loved," although all of the performances are quite enjoyable. Highly recommended.

Nico Assumpção     Bass
Paulinho Braga     Drums
Oscar Castro-Neves     Guitar, Percussion, Producer
Jack DeJohnette     Drums
Eliane Elias     Piano
Herbie Hancock     Piano
Joe Henderson     Sax (Tenor)
Christian McBride     Bass